Written by Sheree Strange, Travel Without Limits, November 13, 2024
If you’re looking at the soaring prices for hotel bookings and short-term rentals and thinking that a holiday is out of your price range, think again. There’s another option that will make your holiday a walk in the park… a holiday park, that is!
Affordable accommodation
Holiday park rates vary by site and by season, but on the whole they’re a lot more budget-friendly than hotels and resorts.
If you’re ready to rough it (relatively speaking) and you have your own tent, a camping site is going to be the cheapest option. A standard, no-frills spot usually won’t run more than $50 per night.
If you’d prefer more comfort, holiday parks offer cabin accommodation that run from modest to magnificent. A standard one-bedroom cabin usually costs between $100 and $200 per night, depending on the location and amenities. Larger villas and more glamorous fixtures will attract higher rates, but they still compare favourably to equivalent hotel accommodation.
Frequent road-trippers often trick out their own caravan or camper van to suit their own specific needs, and holiday parks are excellent for affordable overnight stops. Powered sites are rarely more than $90 per night, and there are often discounts for extended stays.
Accessibility is key
You might be surprised to discover just how many holiday parks have accessible accommodation that will suit your needs. Most holiday parks have designated cabins and villas for travellers with disabilities. These will incorporate step-free access and ramps, widened doorways, additional circulation space, and other essential elements that will make your stay comfortable.
The Poolside Accessible Villa at Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park is a great example. The large deck overlooks the resort-style pool (which is accessible via ramp), and has plenty of space to manoeuvre around the outdoor setting. Inside, you’ll find lowered bench tops, a large bathroom, and widened doorways.
Everyone is welcome
Most travellers rarely arrive alone, so it’s nice to go somewhere everyone is welcomed. Families with kids of all ages, groups getting away together, people travelling with four-legged friends – all can be accommodated at holiday parks.
Larger villas can accommodate groups of ten (even more, in some places), with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to spread out. Holiday parks have lots of communal areas for kids (and kids at heart) to explore, play, and make friends with fellow travellers.
While dog-friendly accommodation is becoming more widely available, it can still be tough to find places that will let you bring your buddy along without breaking the bank. Holiday parks are the answer! Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park, for instance, has a dog-friendly cabin with a doggy door that leads to an enclosed verandah.
Get away from it all
Leave the rat race behind when you book accommodation at an accessible and affordable holiday park. Most are located outside the big cities, giving you lots of opportunities to explore off the beaten path. Getting back to nature is great for your mental health, and holiday parks in regional areas will let you do just that without sacrificing the convenience of amenities and attractions nearby. You also won’t have to navigate crowds, do battle for parking or access to transport, or get lost on confusing city streets.
Find the fun
Holiday park operators know that they need to offer options to keep everyone entertained year-round. That’s why most have excellent outdoor and indoor activities that suit a range of tastes and needs. These could include movie nights on cinema-style projection screens, inclusive play spaces for younger kids, resort-style pools with water features, low-impact sports like ping pong, board games available to borrow and share, local guides and shuttles, communal meals, and more. Usually, these are all included in your nightly rate (though some activities might attract a small fee at some locations).
